Curtin Malaysia strengthening ties with Vietnamese partners

Miri – 27 April 2023 – With international borders reopened and travel restrictions lifted, Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has wasted no time re-engaging with its strategic partners across ASEAN, strengthening existing collaborations and establishing new ones over the past year and a half.

Dean of its Faculty of Engineering and Science, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, and Deputy Dean of Research & Development and Director of the Curtin Malaysia Graduate School, Professor Agus Saptoro, were in Ho Chi Minh City recently to visit two key Vietnamese partners – University of Management and Technology (UMT) and Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment.

According to Prof. Vu, it was an opportunity to meet senior leaders of the two Vietnamese universities face-to-face following a long period of conducting business online and take their collaboration in academia and joint research to a new level.

On their visit to UMT, one of Vietnam’s newest and most modern universities designed and built to international standards, Prof. Vu and Prof. Saptoro were accompanied by Tiffany Pham, Curtin University’s In-Country Manager for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

There they met with UMT’s Vice-Chairperson and Chief Operating Officer Huynh Thuy Phuong, Vice-President of Academic Affairs Associate Professor Ho Thanh Phong, Dean of School of Technology Associate Professor Tran Dan Thu, Dean of Business Dr. Tran Nam Quoc, and Director of Office of Curriculum Design and Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Pham Thi Huong.

During their meeting, they discussed ongoing collaboration outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Curtin Malaysia and UMT in 2022, including articulation for bachelor’s and master’s programmes at Curtin Malaysia, collaboration in developing a supply chain management programme, student mobility programmes between the two universities, and co-teaching and guest lecturing for selected programmes.

They also discussed research-related collaborations such as doctoral degree training for UMT academics at Curtin Malaysia, training and registering of external Higher Degree by Research (HDR) supervisors from UMT at Curtin Malaysia, and research alliances in strategic areas leveraging on the research strengths of both universities.

Meanwhile, at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment (HCMUNRE), Prof. Vu and Prof. Saptoro met with Vice-President Associate Professor Le Hoang Nghiem and Vice-Director of HCMUNRE’s Research Institute for Sustainable Development Associate Professor Le Chung Chon.

Also present were Head of HCMUNRE’s Office of Research Development and External Relations Associate Professor Ho Thi Thanh Van, and Vice-Head Dr. Tran Thanh Tam, as well as representatives of its Environment, Land Administration, Information System and Remote Sensing faculties.

Proposed collaboration discussed during the meeting included doctoral degree training for HCMUNRE staff and training and registering of external HDR supervisors from UMT at Curtin Malaysia; research collaboration in the areas of marine ecology, climate change, geology, geospatial intelligence, environment and renewable energy; and short courses delivered by Curtin Malaysia academics and researchers at HCMUNRE.

“Continued collaboration with our partners in Vietnam and other countries can be very beneficial for all parties involved, and there are indeed many opportunities for academic and research collaboration,” said Prof. Saptoro.

“Through our discussions, we have identified many areas of mutual interest and expertise, proposed joint research projects and exchange programmes for students and faculty, and more. We look forward to building long-lasting and productive collaborations with all our partners.”

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Prof Vu presenting momento to UMT’s Huynh Thuy Phuong

Group photo of Prof Saptoro and Prof Vu (1st & 2nd left) with representatives of UMT

Prof Vu and Prof Saptoro during discussions at HCMUNRE

Prof Vu and Prof Saptoro pose for group photo with HCMUNRE representatives